Zaire Rebel Leader Spurns Cease-Fire and Sets Sights on Capital

With his army advancing rapidly and United Nations officials urging him to call a cease-fire, the rebel leader whose forces have seized a third of Zaire struck a defiant stance today, rejecting calls for peace talks and promising to push all the way to Kinshasa.

Speaking to about 5,000 people at a rally in this Congo River town's athletic stadium, the rebel chief, Laurent Kabila, also banned political parties from organizing in rebel territory for the duration of the civil war and suggested that his transitional administration, if he succeeds in taking over the government, would include no other parties.

As he has in the past, Mr. Kabila said he was willing to negotiate with President Mobutu Sese Seko only if the longtime dictator agreed to relinquish power completely, a demand that would amount to unconditional surrender.

Mr. Mobutu, gravely ill with prostate cancer, returned to Zaire on Friday after several weeks in France and Monaco.

''Do you know what kind of negotiation we want with Mobutu?'' Mr. Kabila asked the crowd. ''We will show him a piece of paper. We will ask him to sign a statement that he renders power to the people. Either he signs or the war continues.''

Since the revolt began in October, the rebel group -- known as the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo -- has routed the demoralized and underpaid Zairian Army, rolling up victory after victory.

Mr. Kabila, a former Marxist who has been fighting in various rebellions against Mr. Mobutu since the 1960's, has been vague about his plans for Zaire. He has said only that he wants to oust Mr. Mobutu, build roads and stop foreign companies from exploiting Zaire's national resources. He has also promised to establish a multiparty democracy and a free market economy.

Until today, Mr. Kabila had not said whether he was willing to cooperate with opposition politicians in Kinshasa, especially Etienne Tshisekedi, the leader of the most powerful opposition party, the Democratic Union for Social Progress.

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Mr. Mobutu has been losing support quickly as the rebels have advanced, leaving Mr. Tshisekedi, who has long advocated nonviolent change, as the biggest rival to Mr. Kabila.

In his speech today, Mr. Kabila made it clear that his rebel alliance would be in charge of the new government if he wins militarily and that he would not form a coalition with other opposition parties. He pointed out again and again that opposition leaders in Kinshasa had been tainted by Mr. Mobutu's corrupt regime, allowing him to remain in power for nearly 32 years.

In a pointed reference to Mr. Tshisekedi, Mr. Kabila said: ''There are people who say they are nonviolent. They say, 'We will fight Mr. Mobutu with our lips.' What have they done so far? They have liberated no towns.''

Mr. Kabila's speech coincided with a visit from Mohammed Sahnoun, the United Nations special envoy who has been trying to arrange a cease-fire between the rebels and the Government. Unable to meet Mr. Kabila in private, Mr. Sahnoun came to the stadium this afternoon and sat on the dais next to the rebel leader during his two-hour speech. Mr. Kabila used the occasion to embarrass the envoy.

Mr. Kabila told the crowd Mr. Sahnoun had come to request a cease-fire and then asked them if they wanted the rebels to stop advancing.

The crowd erupted in a boisterous chant, ''Advance, advance!'' which a few minutes later changed to ''To Kinshasa, To Kinshasa!''